Northwest Territories Canadian Child Support Calculator

Child support in Northwest Territories uses the Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) table system, where the base monthly amount is determined by looking up the paying parent's gross annual income, the number of children, and the Northwest Territories province-specific table. The 2025 Federal Tables, effective October 1, 2025, provide fixed monthly amounts reflecting northern tax rates and economic conditions. This table amount is paid in addition to any Section 7 special or extraordinary expenses that the court orders to be shared proportionally by income.

Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines allows courts to order payment of special or extraordinary expenses beyond the base table amount. These include childcare costs incurred due to employment or education, the child's portion of medical and dental insurance premiums, uninsured health expenses exceeding $100 annually (orthodontics, counselling, therapy), extraordinary educational expenses for primary or secondary school, post-secondary education costs, and extracurricular activities. An expense qualifies as extraordinary if it exceeds what the requesting parent can reasonably cover considering their income and the table amount received. These expenses are typically shared proportionally based on each parent's income.

When each parent exercises at least 40% of parenting time over the year (146+ days or 3,504+ hours), Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines applies. The court calculates what each parent would owe if they were the sole paying parent using the Northwest Territories tables, then typically applies a set-off by subtracting the lower amount from the higher amount. However, the set-off is not automatic—courts retain discretion and must consider the increased costs of shared parenting arrangements, the conditions and means of each parent, and the relative standard of living in each household. The final amount may differ from a simple set-off calculation based on these factors.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines use the paying parent's gross annual income (income before taxes and deductions) to determine table amounts. Gross income is used because it provides a fairer reflection of earning capacity, as the Federal Tables already account for taxes when setting monthly amounts. In court proceedings, a judge may impute income if they determine a parent is earning below their capacity or has made discretionary deductions that understate true income. Income information typically comes from line 15000 of the Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment.

Yes, child support in Northwest Territories can be modified when there is a material change in circumstances. Common grounds include either parent's income changing significantly, the child reaching the age of majority (19 in Northwest Territories), or changes in Section 7 special expenses. The October 1, 2025 update to the Federal Child Support Tables itself can constitute a change in circumstances if it results in a different payment amount. Northwest Territories offers a Child Support Recalculation Service to help parents administratively update support based on income changes without requiring court proceedings, though either parent can also apply to court for a variation order when circumstances change.

In Northwest Territories, the age of majority is 19, but child support does not automatically end at that age. Under both the Divorce Act and territorial family law, support continues if the child remains financially dependent while pursuing reasonable post-secondary education. Canadian courts routinely extend support through undergraduate degrees and, in appropriate circumstances, professional programs such as law school, medical school, or dental school if the educational pursuits are reasonable given the child's academic performance, career plan, and family circumstances. Support typically ends when the adult child completes their first post-secondary credential, though courts may order continued support for second degrees when pursuing the career reasonably requires advanced education.

For paying parents with annual income exceeding $150,000, Section 4 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines provides that the base amount is the table amount for $150,000 plus either: (1) the applicable percentage of income over $150,000 specified in the simplified tables, or (2) if the court determines that amount is inappropriate, the table amount for the first $150,000 plus an amount the court considers appropriate based on the children's needs and each parent's financial ability to contribute. High-income payors may argue that strict table amounts are inappropriate for their particular circumstances, but must demonstrate why the guideline calculation does not meet the children's reasonable needs.

Extracurricular activities can be included as Section 7 extraordinary expenses in Northwest Territories, but not all activities automatically qualify. The court must determine that the expense is extraordinary by considering whether it exceeds what the parent receiving the base table amount can reasonably cover from that amount, taking into account their income. Factors include the expense's necessity in relation to the child's best interests, the reasonableness of the expense relative to the parents' means and the family's pre-separation spending patterns, and any available subsidies or tax credits. If ordered, the expense is typically shared proportionally based on each parent's gross income, paid in addition to the base table child support amount.